Nut cracker



Jan. 21, 1969 M. A. BARROW NUT CRACKER Filed Jan. 5, 1967 INVENTOR.

W] m W 5 A. m w a M JTTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,422,865 NUT CRACKER Marvin A. Barrow, Mont Belvieu, Tex., assignor of onehalf to Ben W. Dutton, Archie D. Dutton, Ross I. Button, Burch B. White, C. W. Roebuck and Winston 5 Claims At the present time, pecan and nut crackers are either 7 operated by hand or utilize machines having many complicated and moving parts. Nut crackers operated by hand are cumbersome in operation and require constant attention, while nut crackers of the automated mechanical variety require constant attention because of many complicated moving parts and their lack of perfection in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved nut cracker.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved nut cracker including a means for inserting nuts into a rotatable wheel, a means for rotating the wheel, a means for cracking the nuts, and a means for ejecting the nuts after cracking which is directly responsive to the means for inserting nuts into the rotatable wheel.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein the figure is an elevated perspective view of the nut cracker of the present invention.

Attention is directed to the figure wherein the nut cracker is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated as including a motor M secured with a gear reduction box 11, both of which are well known in the art. A drive shaft 12 is illustrated as extending outwardly from the gear reduction box 11 and is adapted to receive a first eccentric cam 13 on an end 12a of the drive shaft 12. The first eccentric cam 13 is provided with an opening 13a off center thereof to make the portion 13b the eccentric portion of the first eccentric cam 13. As further illustrated in the figure, a second eccentric cam 14 is positioned on the drive shaft 12 between the first eccentric cam 13 and the gear reduction box 11 and is provided with an opening 14a off center and extending through the cam 14 so that the drive shaft 12 may be inserted through said opening. The second eccentric cam 14 is positioned such that the eccentric portion 14b is diametrically opposite from the eccentric portion 13b of the first eccentric cam 13 during rotation of the drive shaft 12. Therefore, it should be apparent that as the drive shaft 12 rotates the first and second eccentric cams, the eccentric portion 13b of the eccentric cam 13 will be in a forward position when the eccentric portion 14b of the second eccentric cam 14 will be in a back :position as illustrated in the figure.

A wheel 15 is illustrated as including a front surface 15a and a back surface (not numbered). The wheel 15 also includes a rim 150, which is adapted to receive a plurality of upstanding edges 16 which are generally illustrated as being triangular in shape and which are secured with the outer surface or rim 150 in any suitable manner. As further illustrated in the figure, the wheel 15 is provided with a plurality of channels 16b spaced around the outer perimeter of the wheel which extend through the wheel from the front surface 15a to the back surface thereof. Each of the plurality of channels 16b positioned around the outer perimeter of the wheel is adjacent one of each of the upstanding edges 16 as illustrated by the figure. It is also to be understood that the wheel 15 is provided with a support for enabling it to be supported from the floor or the like in any suitable manner. It should also be noted that each of the channels 16b is sufliciently large to receive a pecan P or some other suitable nut.

A first shaft 20 is illustrated as being positioned transversely to the drive shaft 12 and is also positioned between the front surface 15a of the wheel 15 and the second eccentric cam 14. The first shaft 20 is supported by a rod 21 or the like, a portion of which is shown, by including an opening 22 in the rod through which the shaft 20 may extend. A first end 21a of the shaft 20 is illustrated as including or having mounted therewith a movable jaw 23 which is adapted to be shaped or formed like the curved arcuate end of the pecans P. A second end 21b of the first shaft 20 is illustrated as including a member 24, which member has secured therewith a contact member 25 made of Teflon or the like which is secured with the member 24 by use of the pin 26. A spring means 27 is positioned between the support 21 and the member 24 and continuously urges the first shaft 20 toward the eccentric cam 14. However, it should be apparent that as the eccentric portion 14b of the second eccentric cam 14 rotates in the direction of the arrow 30, the eccentric portion 14b will contact the member 25 to overcome the spring means to push the shaft 20 in the opposite direction of the arrow 31 and towards the pecan P positioned in one of the plurality of channels 16b.

Another positioning rod 32 is partially shown for receiving one end of an externally threaded bolt 33. Positioned on the opposite end of the bolt 33 is a stationary jaw 34 which is threadedly engaged with the bolt 33 so that it may be adjustable longitudinally relative to the channel 16b. It should be apparent that as the eccentric portion 14b contacts the member 25 to shove the shaft 20 toward the pecan P positioned in the channel 16, the movable jaws 23 and the stationary jaw 34 will grip the pecan P on each end thereof and the pecan shell will thereafter be cracked. Of course, if adjustment is needed, the stationary jaw 34 may be moved forward or backward longitudinally relative to the channel 15 and first shaft 20.

As further illustrated in the figure, a second shaft 35 is mounted parallel to the first shaft 20 and transverse to the drive shaft 12 and is illustrated as including a first end 35a having an attachment member 36 with a slot therein for receiving an L-arm 37. The second shaft 35 at the other end 35b thereof is secured with a member 38 which is adapted to have mounted therewith another contact member 39 which is made of Teflon or the like and which is secured to the member 38 by the pin 40. The L-arm 37 includes an arm 37a and an arm 37b which are illustrated as extending parallel to the second shaft 35 and backed toward the wheel 15. The arm 37a is positioned transversely to the second shaft 35 and extends upwardly therefrom. Adjacent the lower portion of the arm 37a is a spring 41 which is secured to the arm 37a by inserting one end of the spring through an opening 42 which is further secured at the other end to a support 43, a portion of which is shown.

At one end 44 of the arm 37b there is provided a slot 45 formed therein for receiving an end 50a of a gripping means 50. It should be noted that the end 50a of the gripping means 50 is attached with the arm 37b by extending a nut or bolt 51 through the slot 45. As illustrated in the figure, the gripping means 50 extends upwardly from the arm 37b and the other end 50b includes a projection 52 which complementally matches one side 16a of the upstanding edges 16.

The spring means 41 continuously urges the arm 37a of the L-arm 37 toward the support portion 43 which in turn urges the arm 37b upwardly such as illustrated by the dotted lines in the figure which in turn urges the gripping means 50 upwardly to engage the next succeeding upstanding edge 16. When the eccentric portion 13b of the first eccentric cam 13 contacts the member 39, the second shaft 35 is, of course, moved in the direction of the arrow 55 and overcomes the spring means 41. As the second shaft 35 is moved in the direction of the arrow, this moves the arm 37a outwardly from the support 43 which in turn causes the arm 37b to move downwardly from the position illustrated in the dotted lines which causes the gripping means 50 to move downwardly, thereby causing the wheel 15 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 56 because of the engagement of the projection 52 of the gripping means 50 with the edge 16a of the upstanding edges 16. Of course, when the eccentric portion has rotated past the contact member 39, the spring means will again overcome the rotation of the first eccentric cam 13 and will thereafter drive the gripping means 50 back upwardly to engage the projection 52 with the edge 16a of the next upstanding edge 16. 'It should be noted there is provided a limit member 57 which extends downwardly from a support 58, a portion of which is shown, and which is secured thereto by a nut 59. The support 57 extends downwardly to engage the gripping means 50 adjacent the end 50b thereof with the end 57a. The member 57 retains the gripping means 50 in contact with the upstanding edges 16 and prevents the gripping means 50 from moving outwardly or away from the edges 16 and insures that the only movement of the gripping means will be upwardly to engage the projection 52 with the surface 16a of the next upstanding edge 16.

As further illustrated in the figure, an arm 60 is secured with said first shaft 20 and extends outwardly and transverse thereto to the point 61 wherein the arm 60' is provided with a curved portion 60a which is illustrated as extending toward the front surface or face 15a of the wheel 15. A tray 65 is provided and includes a bottom surface 65a which includes an arcuately curved end 65b and the upstanding side walls 650 and 65d. The tray 65 is for receiving a plurality of pecans P and is positioned adjacent one of the channels 16b which is diagonally opposite from the channel 16b which is in longitudinal alignment with the stationary jaw 34, movable jaw 23, and first shaft 20 as illustrated in the figure. The arcuate portion 65b of the tray 65 is for preventing the lowermost pecan P from escaping or rolling out of the tray. It should be apparent that movement of the first shaft 20 longitudinally relative to the channel 16b immediately adjacent the stationary jaw 34 will also affect movement of the arm 60 longitudinally relative to the channel 16b diagonally positioned from the other aforementioned channel. Therefore, as the first shaft 20 and movable jaw 23 move toward the stationary jaw 34 and channel 16b immediately adjacent thereto, the portion 60a of the arm 60 also moves toward the other diagonally opposed channel. Another stationary jaw 66 is provided for gripping the end of a lowermost pecan P, and as the portion 60a moves toward the channel 16b immediately adjacent the tray 65, the lowermost pecan P in the tray 65 is shoved forwardly and into the channel 16b immediately adjacent thereto. It should also be apparent that as the wheel 15 continues rotating in the direction of the arrow 56, the cracked pecans will be positioned in the channels illustrated at 67, 68, and 69 and such channels are once again in the position of the channel 16b immediately adjacent the tray 65, the forward movement of the first shaft 20 and the arm 60 will cause the lowermost pecan P in the tray 65 to shove the cracked nut or pecan out of the channel 16b into an awaiting tray or container (not shown).

In the operation of the invention, pecans P are loaded in the tray 65 and the motor M is thereafter actuated. Actuation of the motor M causes the eccentric portion 14b of the second eccentric cam 14 to rotate around to contact the contact member 25 which overcomes the spring means 27 to move the first shaft 20 and movable jaw 23 toward the stationary jaw 24 and the immediately adjacent channel 16b. Such forward movement also causes the arm 60 and movable jaw 66 to contact the lowermost pecan P in tray 65 and insert said pecan into the channel 16b immediately adjacent the tray 65. As the eccentric portion 14b moves out of contact with the contact member 25, the spring means 27 overcomes the contact of the eccentric portion 14b and moves the first shaft 20 and arm 60 in the direction of the arrow 31 away from their respective channels 16b. As this occurs, the eccentric portion 13b of the first eccentric cam 13 is contacting the contact member 39 to overcome the spring means 41 and drive the second shaft 35 in the direction of the arrow 55. Such movement causes the arm 37b of the L-arm 37 to move downwardly, thereby causing the gripping means 50 to also move downwardly which causes the wheel 15 to rotate due to the contact between the projection 52 of the gripping means 50 and the surface 16a of the upstanding edge 16b. As the eccentric portion 13b moves out of contact with the member 39, the spring means 41 overcomes such contact and moves the arm 37b upwardly which thereby moves the gripping means 50 upwardly to engage the next adjacent upstanding edge 16. As the gripping means 50 is being moved upwardly, the first shaft 20 is once again moving toward the stationary jaw 34 so that the movable jaw 23 and stationary jaw 34 can position and grip a pecan P positioned in the immediately adjacent channel 16 therein to crack the pecan shell P positioned in the channel. As the wheel 15 rotates in the direction of the arrow 56, cracked pecans positioned in the channels such as illustrated at 67, 68, and 69, which are between the jaws 23 and 66, are shoved out of the channel 16b immediately adjacent the tray 65 when a new pecan is inserted therein.

Briefly, the present invention relates to a new and improved nut cracker including a motor and drive shaft secured therewith, first and second eccentric cams secured with said drive shaft, a rotatable wheel spaced from said first and second eccentric cams, said wheel having a plurality of channels around the outer perimeter thereof for receiving pecans and the like, a stationary jaw facing the back surface of said wheel, said jaw being positioned in alignment with one of said plurality of channels, a first shaft having first and second ends mounted transversely to said drive shaft, said first end of said shaft being positioned adjacent said front face of said wheel, and said second end of said shaft being positioned adjacent said second eccentric cam, and a movable jaw secured to said first shaft.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for cracking pecans and the like comprismg:

(a) amotor;

(b) a rotatable drive shaft secured with said motor;

(c) a first eccentric cam mounted at the end of said drive shaft, said cam being rotated when said shaft is rotated;

(d) a second eccentric cam secured with said shaft between said motor and said first eccentric cam, said second eccentric cam being positioned relative to said first eccentric cam such that the eccentric portions of said first and second cams are oppositely positioned relative to each other;

(e) a rotatable wheel having a front and back surface spaced from said first and second cams, said wheel having a plurality of channels around the outer perimeter thereof for receiving pecans and the like;

(f) a stationary jaw facing said back surface of said wheel, said jaw being positioned in alignment with one of said plurality of channels;

(g) a first shaft having first and second ends mounted transversely to said drive shaft, said first end of said shaft being positioned adjacent said front face of said wheel and said second end of said shaft being positioned adjacent said second eccentric cam; and

(h) a movable jaw secured with said first end of said first shaft wherein said stationary jaw, said one channel of said plurality of said channels, said movable jaw and said shaft are in longitudinal alignment with each other whereby the eccentric portion of said second rotating eccentric cam engages said shaft to move said shaft and said movable jaw into said one channel of said plurality of channels to engage a pecan and the like positioned therein whereby the pecan is positioned between said movable jaw and stationary jaw to be thereby cracked.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including a spring means mounted on said shaft wherein engagement of the eccentric portion of said second cam with the second end of said shaft overcomes said spring means and wherein said spring means moves said shaft and said movable jaw away from said one channel of said plurality of channels when the eccentric portion of said second cam is not in engagement with said second end of said shaft.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 including:

(a) a plurality of upstanding edges secured with the outer surface of said wheel, one of each of said plurality of edges being positioned adjacent one of each of said plurality of channels;

(b) a second shaft positioned parallel to said first shaft, said second shaft having first and second ends with said second end being positioned adjacent said first eccentric cam;

(c) an L-arm secured with said first end of said second shaft, said L-arm extending upwardly and parallel to said second shaft and terminating adjacent said wheel;

(d) a flexible gripping means secured with the end of said L-arm adjacent said wheel, said gripping means extending toward said wheel to contact one of said plurality of edges; and

(e) a spring means mounted with said L-arm, said spring means continuously urging said second end of said second shaft toward said first eccentric cam and continuously urging said gripping means to grip the next of said edges adjacent said one channel wherein the eccentric portion engages said second end of said second shaft to overcome said spring means mounted with said L-arm to move said gripping means downwardly whereby said edge gripped by said gripping means is pulled downwardly to rotate said wheel to thereby enable one of said channels immediately above said one channel to be longitudinally aligned with said first shaft, said stationary jaw, and said movable jaw.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein rotation of said wheel by gripping said gripping means with one of said edges occurs when said spring means urges said first shaft toward said second eccentric cam and wherein movement of said movable jaws and said first shaft toward one of said channels occurs when said spring means mounted with said L-arm is urging said gripping means upwardly to engage said next edge above said one channel positioned longitudinally with said first shaft, said stationary jaw and said movable jaw.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 including:

(a) an arm mounted with said first shaft and extending outwardly to face one of said channels diagonally positioned from said channel longitudinally aligned with said first shaft; and

(b) a tray for receiving pecans and the like positioned between said arm mounted with said first shaft and said front surface of said wheel wherein movement of said shaft and said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw and said channel aligned therewith to crack said pecan causes said arm to move forward and engage the lowermost pecan on said tray and shove the pecan and the like into said channel immediately adjacent said tray wherein a cracked pecan in said channel is ejected from said channel on the back surface of said wheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,208,324 12/1916 Jones 146-l2 1,787,746 1/1931 Hayes 1468 2,765,830 10/1956 Guenther 146l2 W. GRAYDON ABERCROMBIE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CRACKING PECANS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: (A) A MOTOR; (B) A ROTATABLE DRIVE SHAFT SECURED WITH SAID MOTOR; (C) A FIRST ECCENTRIC CAM MOUNTED AT THE OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT, SAID CAM BEING ROTATED WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATED; (D) A SECOND ECCENTRIC CAM SECURED WITH SAID SHAFT BETWEEN SAID MOTOR AND SAID FIRST ECCENTRIC CAM, SAID SECOND ECCENTRIC CAM BEING POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST ECCENTRIC CAM SUCH THAT THE ECCENTRIC PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CAMS ARE OPPOSITELY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; (E) A ROTATABLE WHEEL HAVING A FRONT AND BACK SURFACE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND CAMS, SAID WHEEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHANNELS AROUND THE OUTER PERIMETER THEREOF FOR RECEIVING PECANS AND THE LIKE; (F) A STATIONARY JAW FACING SAID BACK SURFACE OF SAID WHEEL, SAID JAW BEING POSITIONED IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF CHANNELS; (G) A FIRST SHAFT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT, SAID FIRST END OF SAID SHAFT BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FRONT FACE OF SAID WHEEL AND SAID SECOND END OF SAID SHAFT BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SECOND ECCENTRIC CAM; AND (H) A MOVABLE JAW SECURED WITH SAID FIRST END OF SAID FIRST SHAFT WHEREIN SAID STATIONARY JAW, SAID ONE CHANNEL OF SAID PLURALITY OF SAID CHANNELS, SAID MOVABLE JAW AND SAID SHAFT ARE IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE ECCENTRIC CAM ENGAGES SAID SHAFT TO SECOND ROTATING ECCENTRIC CAM ENGAGES SAID SHAFT TO MOVE SAID SHAFT AND SAID MOVABLE JAW INTO SAID ONE CHANNEL OF SAID PLURALITY OF CHANNELS TO ENGAGE A PECAN AND THE LIKE POSITIONED THEREIN WHEREBY THE PECAN IS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE JAW ANS STATIONARY JAW TO BE THEREBY CRACKED. 